Also in Italy many Mini fan want to know the next generation engine for Cooper S.
For me, in a small traction avant like Mini the best engine is a line four clinder and naturally aspirated. BMW in '80's produced one of the best four cilnder ever seen: the M3 and 320Is E30 engine. Why not for Cooper S?
Now the best 2.0 in the world is Honda Vtec, i like to think of Mini powered by Honda.
French engine: i had a Peugeot 205 1.9 130cv many years ago and the car was extremely fast and exciting. But not for engine expecially.
The 180cv 2.0 of 206RC seems good, but i don't know very well.
The Rover K Series instead is a bad engine, my friends ith Lotus Elise or Exige don' talk well about it: few HP and reliability is only very light.